Safety belt with dashboard support



Feb. 20, 1962 B. BoTAR SAFETY BELT WITH DASHBOARD SUPPORT Filed oct. s1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BELA BOTAR BY Mmgmm A TORNEYS.

Feb. 20, 1962 B. BoTAR 3,022,089

SAFETY BELT WITH DASHBOARD SUPPORT Filed oct. s1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5517A aoTAR Feb. 20, 1962 B. BOTAR SAFETY BELT WITH DAsHBoARD SUPPORT Filed Oct. 31, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG; 4. I4 @I4 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR BELA BOTAR BY BMM-,Mv

AT RNEYS.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 B. B01-AR SHBOARD SUPPORT SAFETY BELT WITH DA FIG. e.

Feb. 20, 1962 Filed oct. 31, 1960 United States PatentO 3,022,089 SAFETY BELT WITH DASHBOARD SUPPORT Bela Botar, 3901 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Oct. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 66,300 8 Claims. (Cl. 280-150) This invention relates generally to safety appliances for vehicles, and is especially concerned with a safety belt construction for restraining the body of a person in a vehicle.

This invention lis a continuation-impart of my previous U.S. application Serial Number 756,143, for Safety Belt, filed August 20, 1958, now abandoned.

In recent years, there has been a considerably increased use of safety or seat belts in automobiles `and the like. However, such seat belts have presented certain disadvantages. It is necessary that each person entering the car physically fasten the sea-t belt in place, in order to obtain the benefit of the restraining force of the seat belt. get to fasten the seat belt. Furthermore, once fastened, it has been necessary to have the seat belt always around the body of the wearer, and thereby restricting his movements. However, it is well known that the seat belt seldom has to be used, the primary occasion for the use of the seat belt 4arising in the case of `a sudden stop.`

One important object of this invention is to provide an improved seat beltrconstruction, such 'thatA the passenger or driver in the vehicle does not have to perform any physical `act .in order to have the seatbelt ready foruse.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a seat belt which is not fastened in a restraining manner around the body of the driver or passenger, and which in fact s ordinarily substantially concealed from view, but which will be instantly tightened around the body of the wearer in the event of a sudden stop or other emergency.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the safety belt is ordinarily located releasably in a position underneath the dashboard of the automobile. Cables extend loosely from each end of the seat belt, on the door of the car, to an operating mechanismbehind or under the seat. The cable can be arranged, with suliicient slack, so that they are substantially concealed from view and so that they are not in the way of the passengers or driver. In other words, in ordinary use, the passenger or driver can enter the car, leave the car, or sit in the car without in any way realizing or noticing the presence of the safety belt. In the event of -a sudden stop, any appropriate switch or other suitable actuating device may be employed which actuates an electric control mechanism for the cable, whereby rapidly to draw up slack in the cable. The effect of drawing up the tension in the cable, at a rapid rate, is to pullthe seat belt loose from the dashboard vand to draw it directly ICC As another feature of the invention, the force to draw in the cable is provided by means of `an electric motor, thereby eliminating the need for springs to tighten the seat belt against the wearers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofY my improved safety or seat belt assembly, showing it installed in an automobile. The vehicle is shown in broken lines, so as to permit the operating parts of the seat belt assembly to be seen. v

. FIG. 2 is-a top plan view of the assembly, showing the safety or seat belt in normal or extended position, with the cable let out or slack, the beltbeing mounted on a In many instances, people .are reluctant to or ordashboard which is shown in broken lines. The front seat of the vehicle is also shown in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the safety belt in retracted or tensioning position, with the cable drawn in or taut. v

FIG. 4 is a top plan View, similar to FIG. 3, showing an application of the invention in which the two halves of the safety belt are separated from each other and are individually secured in position around separate passengers on the front seat of the vehicle. Y FIG. 5 is a top plan view of -a modification of the invention in which two separate safety belts are employed, one foreach passenger on Ithe front seat, each being controlled by a separate motor.

FIG. 6 is la longitudinal section of a motor and control solenoid in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 is ya fragmentary longitudinal section of the solenoid and control `apparatus shown generally in FlG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view of `a mechanism for releasably holding the seat belt aga-inst the dashboard.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a form of pulley, useful in accordance with the invention, for conning the movements of the cable to the appropriate path.

. By reference to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that theyv show, somewhat diagrammatically, an auto into the laps' of the driver and passengers in the front it may be placed against the dashboard again, and the cables placed in their normal inactive position.

Optionally, tensioning means may be provided for automatically restoring the seat belt to its position against the dashboard when the tension on the cable is released. n

mobile 10 to which the safety belt system is lillustratively applied. This automobile 10 has a front seat 11 `and a dashboard 12, these being arranged in a manner which is well known and which does not require extended description.

Optionally, but without limitation thereto, the safety belt itself comprises two sections 13 in .lateral alignment. Each of these sections 13 is secured under the dashboard by means of clips 14, -two such clips 14 being illustratively shown for each seat belt section 13. Each said clip 14 is secured by a stud 15 to the underside of dashboard 12, and may be of any suitable resilient construction so as to hold the seat belt releasably against the bottom of the dashboard. The two seat belt sections 13 terminate at their inner ends in rings 16 which are releasably secured together by buckle 17. It will be apparent that in cases in which it is only desired to provide one seat belt for the entire front seat, then a single belt section, instead of the two sections 13, may be employed.

Optionally, the seat belt sections 13 may be biased into position against the dashboard 12 by means of spring loaded reels 18. Optionally, there is one such reel 18 for each seat belt section 13, these reels 18 being located adjacent the outer end of the safety belt sections 13. Each said reel 18 is turnable on a vertical stud 19 which is fixed to the underside of the dashboard 12, or another suitable location, by any suitable means. Each said reel 18 includes a pulley 20 on the periphery of which cable 21 is wound. An internal spiral'spring 22 on the stud or shaft 19 and coupled to the pulley 20, inthe usual manner, tends to maintain the cable 21Yin wound up condition on the reel 18. The free end of' each cable 21 13 into. general position against the underside of dashboard 12. However for greater neatness, it is then possible to/ insert the seat belt sections 13 into the clips 14'. On the other hand, if the reels 18 are omitted, it is still possible to use the Yclips 14 to hold the seat belt sec'- tions 13 in place. n

A cable 23 isixed to the outer end ofeachA belt sec- 'tion 13. `Asfwill beexplained below, this cable 23 is normally slack.v The cable 23 is" led rearwardly from dashboard 12, preferably onr the licor, and along a respective side of seat 11, to la respective pulley 24. Each said pnl'- ley 24 is turnably mounted on a bracket 2S having a screwshank'z which may be threaded laterally and outwardly into the frame of; the automobile. Any other suitable means for anchoring pulley 2 4 may be employed, it being important thatt-his pulley be properly anchored since it bears the stress of movement of the body against the seat belt in case ofY a sudden stop. Y

The two cables 23 are extended laterally inwardly of the respective pulleys 24 and into the motor andcontrol mechanism shown in detail ink FIGS. 6 and 7, and designated generallyby the reference numeral 30. This mechanism 30Yis preferably xed to the oorboard33 of the automobile below seat 11. Since the majoroperating stress isplaced upon thertwo pulleys 24, which are secured to the automobile frame, it is' suiiicient to secure the controlmechanism 3G tothe thin floorboard, audit does not have to be anchored as securely as inr someprior art constructions. Y Y

The control mechanism 30` includes a generally cylindrical casing 31, whose axis extends vertically, and which may beextended through an opening in the oorboard 33 Vbelow seat 11.Y This casing 31 has a top end wall 32 and has at its bottom an outwardly extendingA peripheral flange: 34'. VVFlange 34 may be secured to thev lower face ofjiioorboardsY 33 `by any suitable means, such as' bolts (not shown). Cover 35' is'V tixed tothe lower face of ange 34 by any suitable means (not shown). An axially extending shaft 36 extends through theinterior of casing 31 and"through an' opening inV top end wall 342 and through a central opening in cover 35. YThe ends ofshaft 36 are secured in place by means of lower head 38 and top nut 3'7.Y Drum 39 is turn-ably mounted on shaft 36.

Drum 39 has a pair of axially spaced, annular grooves 46 and 41 inthe periphery thereof. Groove 40 registers with an aperturev 42 in the side wall of casing 31, through y which one of the cables 23' isextended; The inner end of cable 23 is anchored in groove 40, adjacent the inner edge thereof, by'means of Ian axially extendingset screw 43 which extends to the' upper endof drum 39 and which is screwed into a corresponding threaded bore thereof, with the lower endV of the screw frictionall'y abutting the y inner'end ofthe-cablei23;

Similarly, the casing 31 has another aperture '44, opposed'to aperturey 42, and* registering with groove 41. The otherfcablerZS-'is` extended' through aperture 44 intol the groove 41 andi is4 similarly anchored by means of ser screw 45.. It will Ybe apparenti that upon rotation of .drum 39` in the direction of arrow 46a (FIGL 2), the two cables 23 will be-woundi up onthe periphery of drum 39, in the'respective grooves. l04 and' 41, as shown in FIG; 6.

At;V its lower end, drum 39 has. an annularrrecess 46;

' and an internal gearY 47;` on the outer periphery of recess An electric motor 48v is xedly mounted on the lower face of cover plate'35` byA means of bolts 48a,`and has an output; shaft 49'whichi extends vertically. This shaft 49 extends through anapertureStin`cover35 and into'recess 46; Gear 51 on shaft' 49 mesheswith' gear 47- sof as to' r-ive drum 39 when the electric motor 48 is energized. Motor 43 may be any suitable rriotor', and is accordingly not shownv in detail. Said motorhas a pair of input terminals to which electric lines 52 and 53 are respectively connected. Said line 52 leads to one terminal of a control device which is illustrativ'ely indicatedV as a switch, designated by the reference numeral 54, this switch 54 being normally open. As' will' be explained below, theinvention is not limited to the use of a switch 54, and -othercontrol means may be provided. The other terminal of switch 54 is Vconnected by electric line 5S to one terminal of battery 56, and line 53 isV connected to the other side of battery 56. It will be apparent that any suitablepower source may be substituted tor battery 56. Any other suitable electric connections for the motor may also be employed. Y v

Diametrically opposite motor 48, a further cylindrical casing 60 is iixed to the underside of plate 35. This cylindrical casing 60 hasV a top end annular peripheral ange 61 which is connected by screws' 62 to plate 35.

An electric solenoid 63 havinga vertical axis is mounted within casing 615. This solenoid 63 has a. pair of input terminals, one of: which is connected byline 64 toV one terminal of switch 65, and the Vother" of whichis connected by line 66 to one terminal of battery 56. Line 67 connects the other terminal `of batteryV 56 tojthe other` terminal of' switch 65. Switch 65 is normally open and may be a manual switch located in any convenient place in the automobile. For example, switch may be located on the-dashboard. Optionally, any other suitable control device may be substituted for switch 65. n

Solenoid 63 has aplunger 68V whichY is upwardly biased by means of spring 69, in the usual way. Said plunger 68 connects at its upper end'with a vertical rod 69a which extends through an endslot 'l0l of a horizontal arm 71. Rod 69a has a head 72 above the 4arm 71.

The outer end of arm 71 is supported turnably upon a` horizontal shaft 73, the ends1 of this shaft 73 being supportedv by abracket 74 which is' fixed tothe underside ofplate 35.A Above shaft 73, arm 71 connectsV with an upwardly inclined and opposing" pawl 75 which extends through anopeningiSOz of plate 35. p Y

' The underside of drum 39AY is provided, adjacent its outer periphery, with -a circumferentially extending set of ratchet teeth 76. Said p'a'wl 75Y and ratchet teeth ,76 are cooperatively shaped, so that in the' upward position of pay/l 75, it engages againstthe` teeth 76 in such a way asvto prevent movement ofdrum 39 in the direction opposite to that of arrow46 (FIG. 2'). However, when the drum 39Li's turned b'y electric' motor 48 in the direction of'arrow 46, thel teeth 76 Vride over pawl 75;

A spring 77 between the upper end of the casing of solenoid 63 and theY lower face' of arm 71 serves to urge pawl 75' upwardly, or in a countercloclwise direction with respect to the axis of shaft 73, 'as taken in FIG. 7. Vifnen solenoidl 63 i's energized, by the closing of switch `65, plunger 68 is lowered against the action of spring 69, thereby rocking pawlr7'5 about theY axis of thershaf't 73', out of engagement with teeth 76 and thereby permitting unwinding of the cables 23 frorudr'urrry 39;

The operation ofi the invention isY as follows:

Normally, both switches 54 and 65 are open; Initially it isassumed that sufficient slack has been provided in cables 23 topermit'. the belts 13 to'- beI secured by clips 14 under dashboard 12. Each cabley 23 is drapedon the `floor, being optionally loosely'covered by the oor rug spaanse brakes of the vehicle so as to be actuated when a brake pressure reaches a desired level, or a mercury switch may be employed or any other suitable control mechanism may be used. In any event, when vthe motor 48 is energixed, drum 39 is turned in the direction of -arrow 46 so as to reel in the two cables 23. The initial action of the cables 23 is to draw up slack so that each cable 23 extends in a straight line from pulley 24 to the point of attachment of the cable to the end of the belt section 13. Accordingly, since the pulleys 24 are located adjacent the floor and the belt 13 is initially located under the dashboard 12 which is elevated, the cables 23 extend downwardly rearwardly from belt section 13 to pulleys 24. Upon further movement of the drum 39, the now tightened cables 23 remove the belts 13 from the clips 14, against the action of the spring reels 18, and move the belts 13 into position against the passengers and driver, so as to hold them firmly in seat 11. Any outward movement of the belt is prevented, because of the location of pawl 75 against ratchet teeth 76 of drum 39.

When the emergency is over, switch 54 is automatically opened, thereby de-'energizing electric motor 48. Switch 65 may then be manually closed, thereby energizing solenoid 63 and causing pawl 75 to be moved out of engagement with ratchet teeth 76. The seat belt is now slack, and not under tension by the electric motor, andthe two spring reels 18 automatically draw seat belt sections 13 back toward their original position under the dashboard. In the event that the reels 18 are omitted, then the operator manually grasps the belt sections 13 and restores them to their original position under the dashboard and held in place by the clips 14. Further slack is then drawn up on the cables 23 so that they may be located as initially, on the lloor and adjacent the doors of the vehicle, or in otherunobtrusive position. The manual switch 65 may then be` released. FIG. 2 shows the normal position of the parts. FIG. 3 shows the seat belt under tension, and shows by means of arrow 80, the direction of rotation of reels 18, in order to return the belt sections 13 toward their original position.

As shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to use the two seat selt sections 13 independently, by detaching the clasp 17. Each belt section 13 may then be secured by any suitable clasp 81 to a belt section 82 which may be fixed to the vehicle at the center of the seat.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 gives the advantage of individual seat belt sections 13, but does require the user manually to fasten one end of each seat belt in place. It should be clear, in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 4, that by connecting the two belt sections 13, by means of clasp 17, the embodiment may be operated exactly the same as in the case of the first embodiment. In other words, the two belt sections S2 are optional and may be added to the construction of the first embodiment.

FiG. 5 shows a further modification, in which there are two control units 30a, one for each side of the seat, and each to control a separate belt section 13. Each of the units 30a is connected by an outer cable 23, via pulley 24, to the outer end of a seat belt section 13, exactly as in the embodiment of FIG. l. In addition, a further cable 23a is coupled to the inner end of each unit 30a, the principle being clear from a consideration of the drawings in connection with the lirst embodiment. Each said cable 23 extends inwardly from unit 39a and around a further pulley 24a which is anchored similarly to pulley 24, and from there extends to the inner end of a respective seat belt section 13. It will be apparent that if the motor of either control unit 30a is energized, the corresponding seat belt section 13 will be independently rctracted into position against the passenger or driver, as the case may be. The embodiment of FIG. 5 requires the use of two control units, but it has the advantage that -tne individual seat belt unit 13 will lit more conormingly around the wearer and will furnish greater support in the event of an accident, than as in the case 6 with the composite seat belt sections 13 of the rst embodiment.

Tests of an actual working embodiment of the invention have shown that the assembly is extremely rugged, is economical to manufacture, and operates eliciently and rapidly to bring the belt into retracted or confining position, while at the same time the system is unobtrusive and almost invisible during conditions of normal use. In addition, because of the use of anchoring pulleys 24, relieving the strain upon the motor assembly, it is extremely easy to install the assembly.

In each of the various embodiments, a safety belt assembly is disclosed for use in conjunction with a longitudinally extending automobile having a laterally extending seat and a base support 33 for said seat, as well as a frame member above and in front of the seat. This frame member may be the dashboard, in case the safety belt assembly is to be applied to the front seat, and may be the back of the front seat, in case the safety belt assembly is to be applied to the rear seat.

The assembly includes the belt sections 13, which may also conveniently be designated as a strap or strap sections. In each embodiment, the strap is supported in laterally extending position on the frame member (such as the dashboard) above and in front of the seat. In each embodiment, the pulleys are mounted on the support behind the seat and in approximately longitudinal alignment with the ends of the strap. In each embodiment, there are a pair of reels adapted to be mounted on the support between the pulleys, with the cables wound on the reels and extending over the pulleys and connected to the respective ends of the strap.

In each embodiment, there are operator-controlled motor means coupled to the reels for winding in the cables on the reels at the will of the operator, so as to release the strap from the frame member and draw the strap downwardly rearwardly taught against the lap of the occupant cr occupants of the seat. Finally, in each embodiment, there are operator-controlled ratchet means coupled to the reels for preventing the unwinding of the cables when the ratchet means are active, while permitting unwinding of the cables and restoration of the strap to its position on the frame when the ratchet means are made inactive.

Also for convenience in interpreting the claims, it is understood that the pulleys may be connected either directly to the tioorboard or to a frame member located adjacent to the iloorboard. In the claims, the term support as applied to the member receiving the pulleys is understood to mean the lioorboard or any other convenient adjacent support means.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. Safety belt assembly for a longitudinally extending automobile having a laterally extending seat, a base support for said seat, and a frame member in front of and above said seat; said assembly comprising a strap, means for releasably supporting said strap in laterally extending position on said frame member above and in front of said seat, pulleys adapted to be mounted on said support behind said scat and in approximate longitudinal alignment with the ends of said strap, a pair of reels adapted to be mounted on said support between said pulleys, cables respectively wound on said reels and extending over said pulleys and connected to the respective ends of said strap, operator controlled motor means coupled to said reels for winding in said cables on said reels at the will of the operator, said strap being thereby released from said frame member and drawn downwardly rearwardly taut against the lap of the occupant of the seat, and operator- Y aoaaoae vstrap being in vtwo sections which are laterally aligned,

said assembly also comprising means for releasably conne'ctingv the inner ends of said strap sections.V

3. Safety belt assembly according to claim l, said strap being in two sections, said assembly also comprising a pair of further straps adapted to be mounted on said support centrally relative to said seat, and means for connecting the inner end of each said first mentioned strap section to each said further strap so as to provide individual seat belt action for each `of two occupants of said seat.

4. Safety belt assembly according to claim 3, saidVV assembly also comprising means for connecting said iirst mentioned strap sections together alternatively to connectirigV said first mentioned strap sections to said second mentioned straps,- said motor means acting upon said reels in unison, said ratchet means also actingupon said reels in unison.

5. Safety belt assembly in accordance with claim 1, therebeing two such assembliesin duplicate, one for each side of the seat.

6. Safety belt assembly for a longitudinally extending automobile having a. laterally extending seat, a base support for said seat, and a. frame member in front of and above said seat; said assembly comprising a strap, means for releasably supporting said strap in laterally extending position on said frame member above and in front of said seat, pulleys adapted to be mounted on said support be- Vhind4 said seat and in approximate longitudinal alignment with the ends of said strap, a shaft vertically mounted on said support between said pulleys, a pair'of unitary reels turnably mounted on said shaft, cables respectively wound on said reels in senses so as to be wound and ,unwound thereon in unison, said cables extending over said pulleys and connected vto the respective ends of said strap, an operator-controlled electric motor, means coupling said motor to' said reels for winding in said cables on said reels upon energization of said motorV by said operator, said strap being thereby released from said frame member and drawn downwardly rearwardly taut against the lap of the occupant of the seat, a ratchet coupled to said reels, a pawl movable into and out ofr engagementwith said ratchet meansl and adapted when engaged with said ratchet means to prevent unwinding Vof said cables and adapted whenfout of engagement with said ratchet means to permit unwinding of'saidc'ables and restoration of said strap to its position on said frame, spring means normally maintainingv said pawl in engagement with said ratchet means, and operator-controlled means coupled to said pawl for moving said pawl to itsposition out of vengagement with saidl ratchet means. 1

7. Safety belt assembly in accordance with claim 6, said means for moving said pawl to its inactive position comprisingia'solenoid having a solenoid plunger, and means coupling said pawl -to said plunger. Y

8. Safety. belt assembly according to claim 7, said assembly also comprising auxiliary reel meansy mounted on said frame member and connecting witlrsaid strap and spring biased so as normally to tend to draw said strap against said frame' member. 

